Fluid guide assembly for a friction multi-plate clutch and clutch unit equipped with the fluid guide assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid guide assembly for a friction multi-plate clutch, comprising an inner disk support (3) having a support portion (5), a shoulder portion (7) and a shaft portion (6), the support portion (5) having a connecting structure (8) by which an inner disk (29) is accommodated in the inner disk support (3) so as to be non-rotatable relative to the inner disk support (3) but movable in the axial direction, and a fluid guide element (4) fixedly connected to the inner disk support (3), the fluid guide element (4) being an annular collecting element capable of collecting the fluid flowing therein. The invention relates to a fluid guiding assembly comprising a fluid guiding element (4) having a shoulder (7) and a plurality of circumferentially distributed tongues (13), the tongues (13) extending in the axial direction and each having a radial through opening (14), the inner disk support (3) having a plurality of longitudinal grooves (11) on the radially outer side, the longitudinal grooves (11) extending axially from the shoulder (7) into the support part (5) and being covered by the tongues (13) of the fluid guiding element (4). The invention further relates to a clutch unit comprising such a fluid guiding assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid guide assembly for a clutch unit and a clutch unit comprising such a fluid guide assembly and a wet friction multi-plate clutch. The friction multi-plate clutch is used to transmit torque in a frictionally connected manner between two drive components such as a drive shaft and / or a drive gear in a powertrain. The friction multi-plate clutch enables switching of the powertrain while applying torque at any rotational speed difference. The wet friction multi-plate clutch comprises a plurality of friction discs, which are cooled or lubricated by a surrounding fluid, for example oil.

[0002] Based on German Patent Invention No. 102015220446, a wet clutch unit for a motor vehicle is known. This clutch unit comprises a friction clutch having a first friction disc assigned to a drive element and a second friction disc assigned to a driven element, the first friction disc and the second friction disc forming a friction disc set. The first friction disc has a first notch, and the second friction disc has a second notch. The first notch and the second notch overlap each other in the radial and axial directions, thereby forming a friction disc set notch. A fluid distributor is fixedly arranged on a drive element having a fluid chamber and a fluid guide groove. The fluid chamber extends axially into the friction disc set notch, thereby enabling the supply of fluid to the friction disc set. The fluid guide groove extends axially to a bearing, thereby enabling the supply of fluid to the bearing.

[0003] Based on German Patent Invention No. 102011086376, an oil supply device for a multi-plate brake operating in slip mode in a transmission module is known. The oil supply device has an oil passage, and the oil flow passage of this oil passage is controlled by a valve to provide an additional oil quantity at a specified point during the slip operation phase. For this purpose, a collecting groove that rotates with a constant diameter is provided on the inner disk support. The oil injected into the collecting groove reaches the planetary gear set through a long hole provided in the inner disk support and further reaches the multi-plate brake.

[0004] Based on European Patent Application Publication No. 3354920, a clutch assembly for an automotive powertrain is known. This known clutch assembly includes a wet friction multi-plate clutch, a support plate on which the disk set is supported in the axial direction, an axially movable pressure plate for applying a load to the multi-plate brake, an operating device for the friction multi-plate clutch, and a flow control device for controlling the oil volume flow passing through the clutch. The inner disk support of the clutch has a plurality of holes in the overlapping region in the axial direction with the disk set, and lubricant can flow through these holes to the disk set. The flow control device has an adjustable adjustment member by the operating device, and this adjustment member has a plurality of throttle sections for covering the opening area of the opening. Thereby, the oil supply can be controlled according to requirements.

[0005] Based on U.S. Patent No. 8388486, a powertrain with a rear drive shaft that can be connected and disconnected as required is known. For this purpose, a controllable clutch is provided between the differential and the side shaft in the rear differential assembly.

[0006] Normally, to sufficiently lubricate components that rotate relative to each other and to dissipate heat generated based on friction, a sufficient oil supply to the friction multi-plate clutch is important. High torque at low rotational speeds can only be provided with a sufficiently large cooling output.

[0007] The underlying problem of the present invention is to propose a fluid guide assembly that enables reliable fluid supply and can be easily manufactured. The problem further lies in proposing a clutch unit provided with such a fluid guide assembly that provides a sufficiently good cooling output, particularly during the slip operation of the clutch.

[0008] According to the present invention, in order to solve this problem, there is provided a fluid guide assembly for a friction multi-plate clutch, comprising an inner disk support having a longitudinal axis, a support portion, a shoulder portion, and a shaft portion, wherein the support portion has a coupling structure having protrusions and notches distributed over the entire circumference in the radially outer direction, whereby an inner disk having a corresponding mating structure is attached so as to be axially movable although not relatively rotatable, an inner disk support; and a fluid guide element fixedly coupled to the inner disk support in the axial direction, the fluid guide element having an annular collection portion capable of collecting the inflowing fluid therein and a plurality of tongue portions distributed over the entire circumference, the tongue portions extending in the axial direction and each having a radially extending through-opening, a fluid guide element, the inner disk support having a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending over the entire circumference in the radially outer direction, the longitudinal grooves extending axially from the shoulder portion into the support portion, and the tongue portions of the fluid guide element being received in or covering the longitudinal grooves of the inner disk support on the outside, whereby fluid passages through which fluid can flow are formed between the longitudinal grooves and the corresponding tongue portions, respectively, a fluid guide assembly is proposed.

[0009] The fluid guiding assembly offers the advantage that the fluid can be quickly flowed from the collection part along the tongue piece of the fluid guiding element and within the longitudinal groove of the inner disk support to the disk set. Due to the tongue pieces distributed over the entire circumference, the fluid is distributed over the entire circumference. Therefore, the fluid guiding element can also be called a fluid distribution element. The longitudinal groove provided in the inner disk support provides a step-free geometry that promotes a uniform and rapid flow of the fluid. Overall, this provides extremely efficient passive cooling, so the fluid guiding assembly is particularly well-suited for transmitting high torque at low rotational speeds, especially in a clutch unit.

[0010] The fluid serves to conduct away the heat generated by friction and lubricate the components that are in frictional contact with each other. Therefore, the fluid can also be called a coolant or a lubricant. Usually, oil is used as the fluid. The fluid that blows around and reaches the annular gap between the free end and the shaft part of the collection part gathers in the annular collection part and can flow from there in the axial direction towards the support part. The front part of the oil guiding sheet metal preferably has a circularly closed oil collection geometry that is fixedly attached to the inner disk support. This collects the fluid redirected radially outwards from the rotating inner disk support and makes it flow along the inner wall of the collection part to the tongue piece part.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the annular collection part may have an inwardly directed draw-in part at its axial end. This draw-in part prevents the fluid from flowing back from the annular part into the inner chamber of the housing in which the inner disk support is rotatably supported inside. Alternatively or additionally, the fluid guiding element may expand conically in the axial direction towards the tongue piece part starting from the axial end. Both means contribute to improved flow characteristics or a larger fluid volume flow and thus effective cooling.

[0012] The annular collecting part of the fluid distribution element is preferably closed over the entire circumference and extends axially beyond the shoulder. The annular collecting part may extend axially beyond the side surface of the shoulder element, in particular by a length of at least 0.1 times or 0.2 times the axial length of the support part. With such a configuration, the collecting part forms a relatively large annular chamber, in which the oil that is blown around collects, and the oil can flow from there to the disk part.

[0013] Subsequent to the annular collecting part, the fluid distribution element may in particular have a cylindrical connecting part, which is fitted over the outer peripheral surface of the shoulder of the support element. According to one possible embodiment, the fluid connecting element may be connected to the support element by a force-locking connection, for example a press connection. Alternatively or additionally, the fluid guiding element may be connected to the support element by a form-locking connecting element, for example a locking connection. The corresponding locking element may be provided on the cylindrical connecting part and / or at the end of the tongue part.

[0014] The shape of the tongue part is in principle arbitrary and is preferably adapted to the configuration of the longitudinal groove of the inner disk support. For example, the tongue part may be configured as an elongate element extending axially, i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axis, and thus the tongue part can also be called a web element. According to one possible configuration, the tongue part of the fluid distribution element may have a depression directed radially outwards. The depression may be configured as an elongate molding or a curvature. The depression increases the area moment of inertia in the radial direction, thereby improving the rigidity and preventing deflection at high rotational speeds. Preferably, the depression or curvature has a height that is less than the radial height of the connection structure. A radial gap may be provided between the tongue part and the disk connected to the support element.

[0015] Preferably, at least a part of the total number of radially penetrating openings in the tongue piece portion is positioned axially offset from each other. Thus, oil can flow into the disk set in different axial regions or different lateral planes, thereby obtaining a uniform distribution of oil and a good cooling effect over the entire length. Particularly preferably, the through openings are arranged in the tongue piece portion such that all the openings together cover at least half, preferably two-thirds, of the length of the coupling structure for the disk. The number of tongue pieces distributed over the entire circumference can be selected as required. For example, the fluid distribution element may have two, three, four or more tongue piece portions, and these tongue piece portions may be particularly uniformly distributed over the entire circumference. The number and arrangement of the tongue piece portions distributed over the entire circumference preferably correspond to the number and arrangement of the longitudinal grooves provided in the inner disk support.

[0016] The tongue piece portion covers the longitudinal groove of the inner disk support radially outward, whereby a substantially closed passage is formed between each longitudinal groove and the corresponding tongue piece portion, and fluid flows through this passage to the opening. In the configuration of the curved portion of the tongue piece portion that is directed radially outward and extends longitudinally, a trough shape is formed through which oil flows into the opening inside. For the desired oil flow to each opening, preferably, the tongue piece portion covers the longitudinal groove almost completely. For this purpose, the tongue piece portion may cover, for example, at least 90% of the inner surface of the corresponding longitudinal groove when viewed radially.

[0017] According to one configuration, the oil guide element may be manufactured from a metallic material as a sheet metal deformation member. Alternatively, the oil guide element can also be manufactured from plastic, and such a configuration can provide structural advantages such as, for example, a clamping function or a locking function.

[0018] The inner disk support can be manufactured as a forging member and / or by mechanical processing. The longitudinal grooves and the coupling structure can be manufactured by deformation processing or cutting processing.

[0019] The longitudinal grooves are circumferentially arranged, preferably between two notches of the coupling structure. The maximum width of the tongue portion may be smaller than, for example, the circumferential spacing between three or two notches of the coupling structure adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. The bottom of the longitudinal groove of the inner disk support is preferably located at a radius smaller than the deepest region of the coupling structure for the inner disk. In other words, with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the disk support, the tooth row elements for the disk may extend radially outward, whereas the groove is formed radially inward. The depth of the longitudinal groove may be, for example, 0.5 to 1.5 times the radial height of the coupling structure. The longitudinal groove preferably extends over at least 75% of the axial extension length of the coupling structure for the disk. The groove may have a recess directed radially inward at the end at the shoulder, whereby fluid can flow well from the collecting portion into the groove. The longitudinal groove may be closed at the opposite end, especially in the axial direction.

[0020] The inner disk support may have a central longitudinal hole and a plurality of radial through openings distributed over the entire circumference and leading to the longitudinal grooves. In this way, an additional oil supply from the central inner opening of the disk support to the disk can be performed. Depending on the operating state, fluid stagnation in the fluid passage can also be avoided by the openings. The fluid can flow out from the longitudinal groove through the radial openings into the central longitudinal hole, reach the fluid circuit again, and in some cases lubricate another component such as a bearing or a seal. The central longitudinal hole may have an inner turning portion, and the radial through openings in the support portion are formed in the overlapping region in the axial direction between the inner turning portion and the outer longitudinal groove.

[0021] The solution further comprises a clutch unit for an automotive powertrain, which is a wet friction multi-plate clutch provided with an outer disk support body having a disk set composed of an outer disk and an inner disk disposed therein, a support plate for axially supporting the disk set, an axially movable pressure plate for applying an axial load to the disk set, and an operating device for operating the friction multi-plate clutch by the axial movement of the pressure plate. A fluid guiding assembly according to one or more of the above-described embodiments is provided. The inner disk support body is rotatably supported about the rotation axis relative to the outer disk support body. The inner disk of the disk set is non-rotatable relative to the coupling structure of the inner disk support body but is axially movably coupled thereto. Thus, when the inner disk support body rotates, fluid flows from the collecting portion along the inner wall of the fluid guiding element to the tongue portion to lubricate the disk set, in the clutch unit.

[0022] The clutch unit enables connection and disconnection of the powertrain as required. The assembly may be configured for a vehicle having a driven axle, an all-wheel drive vehicle, a hybrid vehicle and / or an electric vehicle in the powertrain. The clutch unit may be disposed at any position in the power transmission path between the drive source and the wheels in the powertrain, for example, in front of the speed increaser, inside the speed increaser or behind the speed increaser and / or in front of the right-angle transmission, inside the right-angle transmission or behind the right-angle transmission and / or in front of the transfer (PTU), inside the transfer or behind the transfer and / or inside the longitudinal drive shaft or in front of the differential transmission, inside the differential transmission or behind the differential transmission and / or on the side axle.

[0023] The clutch unit according to the present invention has the advantage that this clutch unit can provide high torque at a low rotational speed based on an effective oil supply system. The fluid distribution assembly preferably acts to call upon the full potential of the controllable clutch. The oil accommodated in the collecting part of the fluid element is guided in the longitudinal groove and can flow further outward to the disc set based on centrifugal force through the holes in the tongue part in the longitudinal groove. The oil can return to the oil reservoir through the corresponding holes in the outer disc support. The flowing oil can also cool and lubricate another movable mechanical component such as a bearing or a seal.

[0024] To operate the clutch, preferably a controllable operating device is provided, and this operating device can move the pressure plate in the direction of the disc set, that is, in the closing direction, or in the direction away from the disc set, that is, in the opening direction. The operating device may in principle have any configuration in order to generate a pressing force. For example, an electric motor type or a hydraulic type actuator can be used. The electric motor type actuator can include a rotary drive device and a ball cam assembly that converts the rotary motion into an axial motion.

[0025] The solution further includes a transmission assembly for an automotive powertrain, which includes a differential transmission configured to divide the introduced torque into two output parts, and a clutch unit as described above. In the transmission assembly, the shaft part of the inner disc support is non-rotatably coupled to one of the two output parts. Such a transmission assembly can transmit the torque introduced from the longitudinal drive shaft to the corresponding axle or can cut off the drive axle when necessary, and all intermediate positions of the friction clutch are also possible.

[0026] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described based on the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

[0028] FIGS. 1 to 3, which will be described together below, particularly show a fluid guide assembly 2 according to the present invention for a friction multi-plate clutch for an automotive powertrain.

[0029] The fluid guide assembly 2 has an inner disk support 3 with a longitudinal axis A3 and a fluid guide element 4, and the inner disk support 3 and the fluid guide element 4 are fixedly coupled to each other. The inner disk support 3 includes a support portion 5 for the inner disk, a shaft portion 6 for non-rotatably coupling to the drive portion, and a shoulder portion 7 disposed between the support portion 5 and the shaft portion 6. The support portion 5 has a coupling structure 8 with radially outwardly projecting portions 9 and notches 10 distributed over the entire circumference, and an inner disk with a matching corresponding structure can be coupled to the coupling structure 8 so as to be non-rotatable but axially movable. Further, the inner disk support 3 has a plurality of longitudinal grooves 11 over the entire circumference on its radially outer peripheral surface, and these longitudinal grooves 11 extend axially into the support portion 5 starting from the shoulder portion 7. The inner disk support 3 can be manufactured as a deformed member by forging, for example, and alternatively or additionally, it can also be manufactured by cutting metal processing such as turning, drilling or milling. The fluid guide element 4 can be manufactured, for example, as a metal sheet deformed member made of a metal material or from plastic.

[0030] The fluid guiding element 4 has an annular collecting part 12 capable of collecting the inflowing fluid therein, and a plurality of tongue parts 13 distributed over the entire circumference. These tongue parts 13 extend in the axial direction and each have a radially penetrating opening 14. The tongue parts are generally denoted by the reference numeral 13, and individual tongues are also indicated by 13, 13’, 13’’, 13’’’. The same applies to the openings 14. As can be seen particularly in FIG. 2, the tongue parts 13 may be received in the longitudinal grooves 11 of the inner disk support 3 on the outside or cover the longitudinal grooves 11 of the inner disk support 3 on the radially outer side. The inner disk support 3 and the fluid guiding element 4 preferably cooperate such that the cooling oil can easily flow from the collecting part 12 along the inner wall 15 of the fluid guiding element 4 into the longitudinal grooves 11 of the support element or can flow along the tongue parts 13 and through the openings 14 of the fluid guiding element 4 into the disk set. The flow path is indicated by the arrow P in FIG. 3. Since the longitudinal grooves 11 in the inner disk support 3 provide a stepped-free geometry, the cooling oil can flow well into the disk set. Further preferred details will be described below.

[0031] The annular collecting part 12 has a radially retracted part 16 at its axial end, and this retracted part 16 forms a support part for the oil present in the annular chamber 17, thereby preventing the backflow of the oil. As can be recognized particularly in FIG. 2, the wall of the collecting part 12 expands conically in the direction of the tongue parts 13 starting from the radially retracted part 16. The annular collecting part 12 projects axially in the direction of the shaft part 6 beyond the shoulder 7 on the side. The length of the collecting part 12 may be, for example, at least 0.1 times or 0.2 times the length of the tongue parts 13.

[0032] Between the protruding collecting part 12 and the tongue part 13, the fluid guiding element 4 may in particular have a cylindrical connecting part 18, which is mounted on the outer peripheral surface 19 of the shoulder 7 by press fitting. Of course, another connecting means for connecting the fluid guiding element 3 and the inner disk support 3, for example a connection part of a form-fitting and / or material-fitting type, may be provided.

[0033] The tongue parts 13, which extend axially away from the annular base body, each have a depression 20 that curves radially outwards starting from the edge radius of the base body, which can also be called a curved part. The depression or curved part has a steeper gradient so that the tongue does not bend even at higher rotational speeds. The height of the curved part is preferably configured such that the tongue is always not in contact with the clutch disk. The radially extending through-opening 14 leading to the disk is arranged in the curved part 20.

[0034] As can be recognized in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2, the radially extending through-openings 14 are arranged in the tongue parts 13 and are axially offset from each other. In this way, oil can flow into the disk set in different axial regions or different transverse planes. In the four tongue parts 13, 13', 13'', 13''' shown in the figure, the opening 14 is adjacent to the annular part axially, the opening 14' is axially offset from this, another opening 14'' is in the approximate central region of the tongue, and yet another opening is adjacent to the tongue end.

[0035] Since the tongue part 13 forms a cover for the longitudinal groove 11 of the inner disk support 3, a substantially closed passage 21 is formed between the longitudinal groove 11 and the tongue part 13, and fluid flows through this passage 21 to the opening 14. The curved part 20, which is directed radially outwards and extends longitudinally, forms a trough shape, and oil flows along this trough shape and then flows out from each opening 14 based on centrifugal force. For the desired oil flow to each opening, the tongue part 13 covers the longitudinal groove 11 almost completely, for example by at least 90%.

[0036] The longitudinally extending grooves 11 distributed over the entire circumference form a plurality of coupling segments distributed over the entire circumference, and these coupling segments together form the coupling structure 8 of the inner disk support 3. Each coupling segment is formed as a longitudinally extending tooth row having a plurality of teeth and the valleys of the teeth located therebetween. The longitudinally extending grooves 11 are arranged adjacent to the notches 10 of the coupling structure 8 in the circumferential direction. In other words, the bottom of the longitudinally extending groove 11 of the inner disk support 3 is located at a radius R11 smaller than the deepest region (R10) of the notch 10. The depth of the longitudinally extending groove may be, for example, 0.5 to 1.5 times the radial height of the coupling structure 8. The longitudinally extending grooves 11 have axially closed ends, and the longitudinally extending grooves 11 may extend over at least 75% of the axial length of the coupling structure 8. The width of the longitudinally extending grooves 11 or the tongue portions 13 may be smaller than, for example, the circumferential spacing between three or two notches 10 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. At the end on the shoulder side, the longitudinally extending groove 11 may have a recess 22 directed radially inward in the shoulder 7, whereby fluid can flow particularly well from the collecting portion 12 into the groove 11.

[0037] The inner disk support 3 may have a central longitudinally extending opening 23 and a plurality of radially extending through openings 24 distributed over the entire circumference and communicating with the longitudinally extending grooves 11. Thus, excess oil can flow radially inward, thereby preventing oil stagnation in the fluid passage or, depending on the operating state, additional oil supply to the disk can be effected from the central inner opening 23 of the disk support. The central longitudinally extending opening 23 may have an inner turned portion 25, and the radially extending through openings 24 in the support portion 5 are formed in the axially overlapping region of the inner turned portion 25 and the outer longitudinally extending grooves 11. Thus, the radially extending openings 24 can be easily manufactured, particularly without a separate drilling process.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a clutch unit 26 according to the present invention, which includes a fluid guide assembly 2 according to the present invention. For further details, reference may be made to FIG. 6, which shows a longitudinal sectional view of the clutch.

[0039] The clutch unit 26 includes a wet friction multi-plate clutch 27 and an operating device 28 for controlling the torque transmissible from the friction multi-plate clutch.

[0040] The friction multi-plate clutch 27 includes an inner disk support 3 to which an inner disk 29 is movably coupled in the axial direction although it is non-rotatable relative to each other, and an outer disk support 30 to which an outer disk 31 is non-rotatably coupled although it is movable in the axial direction. The outer disks 31 and the inner disks 29 are alternately arranged in the axial direction to form a disk set 32 together. The disk set 32 is axially supported by a support portion 33 of the outer disk support 30 in a first axial direction. A pressing plate 34 is provided to apply a load to the disk set 32, and this pressing plate 34 is axially movable by a controllable operating device 28. The outer disk support 30 is rotatably supported about a rotation axis A3 within a housing 44 via a first bearing 59 and about a journal section of the inner disk support 3 via a second bearing 60.

[0041] The operating device 28 is configured or controllable to variably adjust, as necessary, the torque to be transmitted from the friction multi-plate clutch 27. Further, the friction multi-plate clutch 27 can realize, in addition to the release position where torque is not transmitted between the inner disk support 3 and the outer disk support 30, and the closed position where the disk supports rotate together about the axis of rotation and all the torque is transmitted, any arbitrary intermediate position. The torque to be transmitted can be determined, for example, in an electronic control unit (ECU) based on the continuously sensed driving state values of the vehicle. The electronic control unit can transmit a corresponding control signal to the operating device 28, and then the operating device 28 applies a corresponding load to the pressure plate 34, whereby the desired torque is transmitted by the friction multi-plate clutch 27.

[0042] A thrust bearing 35 is provided between the operating device 28 and the friction multi-plate clutch 27. This thrust bearing 35 enables the axial force transmission from the operating device 28 to the pressure plate 34 and at the same time blocks rotation. The operating device 28 includes a ball cam mechanism and a drive unit. The ball cam mechanism has a support ring 36 axially supported by a position-fixed component, and an adjustment ring 37 located on the side opposite to the support ring 36 and rotatably drivable about the axis of rotation A3. On the end faces of the support ring 36 and the adjustment ring 37 facing each other, ball grooves 38, 39 are arranged, which are distributed over the entire circumference and have variable depths over the entire circumference. One ball is accommodated in each of these ball grooves 38, 39. To operate the ball cam unit, an electric motor (not shown) acts as a drive device that can rotate the adjustment ring 37 relative to the support ring 36 via a gear transmission 38. The gear transmission 38 includes a drive gear 40 rotatably drivable by the electric motor, and this drive gear 40 is drivingly coupled to an output gear 41. The output gear 41 is coupled to the adjustment ring 37 and is particularly configured integrally with the adjustment ring 37.

[0043] When the drive gear 40 using an electric motor rotates, the output gear 41 and thus the adjustment ring 37 are rotated relative to the support ring 36. Depending on the rotation direction of the motor shaft, the adjustment ring 37 can rotate in a first rotation direction or a second rotation direction opposite thereto. Starting from the starting position where both rings 36, 37 are axially close to each other, when the adjustment ring 37 rotates relative to the support ring 36 in the first rotation direction, the balls held in the ball grooves roll within a region of less depth, whereby the adjustment ring moves axially in the direction of the clutch 27. The adjustment ring 37 is axially supported via a thrust bearing 35 on a pressure plate 34 that applies a load to the disc set. In this way, the clutch 27 is closed. In the fully closed state, since the maximum load is applied to the disc set, all the torque is transmitted between the inner disc support 3 and the outer disc support 30. When the electric motor and thus the adjustment ring 37 are rotated in the reverse second rotation direction, the balls held in the ball grooves roll again into a region of greater groove depth, and the adjustment ring is adapted to be loaded or moved axially in the direction of the support ring by spring means (not shown). Thus, the clutch 28 can be opened again.

[0044] The clutch unit 26 cools the disc set extremely well even at low rotational speeds and high torques. Such a clutch unit can in principle be used anywhere in the powertrain of a motor vehicle. An example of the use of the clutch unit 26 according to the present invention is in the transmission assembly 42 shown in FIG. 6 described below.

[0045] The transmission assembly 42 includes a differential transmission 43 with a stationary housing 44. Inside the housing 44, a differential case 45 is rotatably supported about a rotational axis A45 by two bearings 46, 47. An annular gear 48 is provided for introducing torque to the differential case 45, and this annular gear 48 is fixedly coupled to the differential case, for example, by a welded joint or a threaded joint. Inside the differential case 45, a plurality of differential gears 49 are rotatably supported about a journal axis on journals 50. Both differential gears 49 rotate together with the differential case 45 and are respectively in tooth engagement with a first driven gear 51 and a second driven gear 52 that are arranged coaxially with respect to the rotational axis A45. Both driven gears 51, 52, which can also be called side shaft gears, each have a longitudinal tooth row 53 (spline), and corresponding mating tooth rows of the drive shaft can engage therein for torque transmission. Both driven gears 51, 52 may be axially supported on the differential case 45 via an interposed slip disk.

[0046] The housing 44 is particularly composed of a plurality of parts, and includes a transmission-side housing part 54 with a differential transmission 43 accommodated therein, and a clutch-side housing part 55 with a clutch unit 26 accommodated therein. The two housing parts are coupled to each other via a flange, but it is not necessary to be limited to such a configuration. An intermediate plate 56 is provided between the two housing parts 54, 55, and a bearing 46 for the differential case 45 is accommodated in the intermediate plate 56. The inner disk support 3 of the clutch unit 26 is coupled to a drive gear 51, and this drive gear 51 is located adjacent to the clutch and extends through a through-opening 57 in the intermediate plate 56. The operating device 28 is arranged axially between the intermediate plate 56 and the clutch unit 26, and the support ring 36 is supported axially by the intermediate plate. The intermediate plate 56 has a sleeve-like attachment part or collar in the region of the fluid guide element 4, and this attachment part or collar extends into the annular chamber 17 of the fluid guide element while overlapping axially with the collection part 12. Thus, oil lubrication is formed, so that the oil flying around can be well introduced into the annular chamber 17 by the sleeve attachment part and reach the passage 21 therefrom.

[0047] The transmission assembly 42 can provide high torque at low rotational speeds based on an effective oil supply system of the clutch unit 26 and can transmit it to both side shafts. The fluid distribution assembly 2 has a suitable action for calling out the full potential of the controllable clutch. The oil flowing through the clutch can also cool and lubricate other movable mechanical components such as the bearings or seals of the clutch unit 26 or the transmission.

Explanation of Signs

[0048] 2 Fluid guide assembly 3 Inner disk support 4 Fluid guide element 5 Support part 6 Shaft part 7 Shoulder 8 Coupling structure 9 Protrusion 10 Notch 11 Longitudinal groove 12 Collection part 13 Tongue piece part 14 Through opening 15 Inner wall 16 Pull-in part 17 Annular chamber 18 Coupling part 19 Outer peripheral surface 20 Depression 21 Passage 22 Recess 23 Longitudinal opening 24 Radial opening 25 Turning part 26 Clutch unit 27 Multi-plate friction clutch 28 Operating device 29 Inner disk 30 Outer disk support 31 Outer disk 32 Disk set 33 Support plate 34 Pressing plate 35 Thrust bearing 36 Support ring 37 Adjusting ring 38 Ball groove 39 Ball groove 40 Driving gear 41 Output gear 42 Transmission assembly 43 Differential transmission 44 Housing 45 Differential case 46 Bearing 47 Bearing 48 Annular gear 49 Differential gear 50 Journal 51 Driven gear 52 Driven gear 53 Longitudinal tooth row 54 Housing part 55 Housing part 56 Intermediate plate 57 Through opening 58 Attachment part 59 Bearing 60 Bearing Axis A Radius R

Claims

1. A fluid guide assembly for a friction multi-plate clutch, comprising: an inner disk support (3) having a support portion (5), a shoulder portion (7), and a shaft portion (6) arranged one behind the other in the axial direction, wherein the support portion (5) has a coupling structure (8) with protrusions (9) and notches (10) distributed over the entire circumference on the radially outer side, whereby an inner disk (29) having a corresponding mating structure is non-rotatably but axially movably attached; a fluid guide element (4) fixedly coupled to the inner disk support (3) in the axial direction, having an annular collection portion (12) capable of collecting the inflowing fluid therein, and a plurality of tongue portions (13) distributed over the entire circumference, the tongue portions (13) extending in the axial direction and each having a radially penetrating opening (14), whereby the fluid can flow from the collection portion (12) along the inner wall of the fluid guide element (4) to the tongue portions (13); in a fluid guide assembly comprising: the inner disk support (3) has a plurality of longitudinal grooves (11) extending over the entire circumference on the radially outer side, the longitudinal grooves (11) extending axially from the shoulder portion (7) into the support portion (5), and the tongue portions (13) of the fluid guide element (4) covering the longitudinal grooves (11) of the inner disk support (3), whereby passages (21) for the fluid are respectively formed between the tongue portions (13) and the longitudinal grooves (11). A fluid guide assembly, characterized in that.

2. The fluid guide element (4) has a coupling portion (18) fitted onto the outer peripheral surface (19) of the shoulder portion (7) of the inner disk support (3), and the fluid guide element (4) is coupled to the inner disk support (3) by an axial press fit. The tongue portions (13) of the fluid guide element (4) have depressions (20) directed radially outward. The annular collection portion (12) of the fluid guide element (4) extends axially beyond the shoulder portion (7) and has a radially retracted portion (16) at an end opposite to the tongue portions (13) in the axial direction, and expands conically toward the coupling portion (18) in the axial direction. A fluid guide assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that.

3. At least a part of all of the radially penetrating openings (14) of the tongue piece part (13) are arranged so as to be axially offset from each other, The fluid guiding element (4) has at least three tongue piece parts (13), Each of the tongue piece parts (13) covers at least 90% of the inner surface of each of the longitudinal grooves (11) when viewed in the radial direction, The fluid guiding assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

4. Each of the longitudinal grooves (11) is arranged between two notches (10) of the coupling structure (8) in the circumferential direction, and the maximum width of the tongue piece part (13) is smaller than the circumferential interval between three circumferentially adjacent notches (10) of the coupling structure (8), The bottom of the longitudinal groove (11) of the inner disk support (3) is located at a radius (R11) smaller than the deepest region of the coupling structure (8) for the inner disk (29), The fluid guiding assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

5. The longitudinal groove (11) has a recess (22) directed radially inwardly in the shoulder (7) and / or is axially closed at the end opposite to the shoulder (7), the fluid guiding assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

6. The inner disk support (3) is manufactured as a forging member, and the longitudinal groove (11) and the coupling structure (8) are formed by forging, the fluid guiding assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that.

7. The inner disk support (3) has a longitudinally central hole (23) in the radial direction and a plurality of radially penetrating openings (24) distributed over the entire circumference and communicating with the longitudinal groove (11), The central longitudinal hole (23) has an inner turning part (25), and the radially penetrating opening (24) is formed in the axially overlapping region between the inner turning part (25) and the outer longitudinal groove (11), The fluid guiding assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

8. A clutch unit for an automotive powertrain, A wet friction multi-plate clutch (27) comprising an outer disk support (30) having a disk set (32) composed of an outer disk and an inner disk disposed therein, a support plate (33) on which the disk set (32) is supported in the axial direction, an axially movable pressure plate (34) for applying an axial load to the disk set (32), and an operating device (28) for operating the friction multi-plate clutch (27) by the axial movement of the pressure plate. In the clutch unit, a fluid guide assembly (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is provided. The inner disk support (3) is rotatably supported with respect to the outer disk support (30) about a rotation axis (A3). The inner disk (29) of the disk set (32) is non-rotatable relative to the coupling structure (8) of the inner disk support (3) but is movably coupled in the axial direction. Thus, when the inner disk support (3) rotates, oil flows from the collection portion (12) along the inner wall of the fluid guide element (4) to the tongue portion (13) to lubricate the disk set (32). A clutch unit characterized by the above.

9. The inner disk support (3) is rotatably supported in a housing (44). The housing (44) has a sleeve attachment portion (58) extending into an annular chamber (17) formed by the collection portion (12) of the fluid guide element (4) in the axial direction. Thus, fluid lubrication is formed. The clutch unit according to claim 8, characterized by this.

10. A transmission assembly for an automotive powertrain, comprising a differential transmission (43) configured to divide the introduced torque into two output portions (51, 52). In the transmission assembly, a clutch unit (26) according to claim 8 or 9 is provided. The shaft portion (6) of the inner disk support (3) is non-rotatably coupled to one of the two output portions (51, 52). A transmission assembly characterized by the above.

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